Like many others, I wondered what difference shaving my head would make. The usual worries of an "odd head", people's reactions, could I keep up with shaving, etc.
But -- it's just hair ... and it does grow back. Taking the plunge is not the end of the world. But the agonising and debating seems to go on forever!
I rarely include people in my photographs, and have almost no photographs of myself, but documenting this journey with pictures has been really interesting.
(
left) About to take the plunge -- the back tells a different story with a sparsely covered crown, or when the wind rearranges things (as shown)!
(
centre) A number 2 cut. I suspected the top was thinning but hadn't realise how much until I saw this picture (
the camera was slightly elevated, so it's a view I don't normally see).
(
right) Day four of the first 30.
For me, the visual change was quite dramatic. The part I didn't anticipate is what it did for my attitude and self-confidence. No longer worrying about my appearance, and (to some extent) what people thought about that, I've found that I've just got on living and doing. I've been more myself (if that makes sense).
The thirty-day challenge is important. The end of week three was rough, but all is now resolved without throwing in the towel.
Yesterday I was with a larger group of colleagues who hadn't yet met the sly me. I got a hug and a whispered "I like the haircut" from one of the ladies. Several guys who I have hardly interacted with in the past two years were among the very first to come over and greet me - all with shaved heads. That was different, but really good. No specific comment from them, but a few from two of the others. The rest politely 'ignored' my new look!!
I've also become aware how many guys around have really short or shaved "hairstyles". It seems I just never really noticed them before, it seems that that is the way I'm now not being noticed in turn! (
with apologies to the grammar police!) Only those who knew the 'before' have commented / reacted to the 'after'. My family have yet to find out - that will happen in a few weeks
!!
